I honestly can't remember the last time I turned on the radio, at least with the intent of listening to music.
Sure, I'll tune into listen to Drew Olson wax poetic on WAUK-AM's "D-List" and, if I'm up early enough, I'll try to catch a bit of Bob & Brian over on WHQG-FM. And if I'm not at the ballpark, I'm usually tuned into Bob Uecker and Cory Provus when the Brewers are playing. Other than that, it's rare that I mess around trying to find a station that's not in commercial and actually playing music I enjoy.
With my iPod always handy, there's no need. Why sit through five minutes of spots, listen to some DJ that's not even in Milwaukee crack wise about something going on in the news or fake giddiness at the Brewers' latest victory when I can make up my own playlist that suits whatever mood I'm in.
I'd be willing to come around, though, if Milwaukee got a station like the latest to hit the airwaves in Sacramento, Calif.
Entercom Communications, which owns WXSS-FM (103.7), WMYX-FM (99.1) and WSSP-AM (1250) here in the Brew City, recently launched "The Buzz" on KZBC-FM (106.5). After getting tipped off to the new station by a poster on a local radio message board, I logged on and tuned in.
Perfect.
Green Day, Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Arrested Development, early No Doubt, some Run DMC. All in all, an excellent mix of obligatory grunge, classic hip-hop and rap (before it required parental advisory stickers) and a little bit of the then-emerging singer/songwriter styles. And, for good measure, the goofier songs of the era (Flagpole Sitter, Mambo No. 5, that annoying Chumbawumba song ... I even heard Fastball's "The Way") get some spins, too.
It reminds me a lot of "The Point," which broadcast here on 106.9 FM during the late '90s with a touch of old-school "Hot 102/New Rock 102.1.
With Milwaukee's radio offerings overflowing with "Classic Rock," "'80s hits" and other genres that leave little to the imagination, a '90s station would bring an excellent change of pace. Personally, I've never understood why people my age (31, in case you want to know) and especially those younger than me have such an obsession with the 1980s.
From what little I remember of that decade, I spent it watching "Sesame Street" and trying to learn math. Now, the '90s ... well, that's another story. Those were my formative years; I discovered all kinds of things I won't mention here in the hopes that my mother doesn't find out. The music of that decade provided the soundtrack to my transition from childhood to adulthood.
One of my favorite T-shirts says "Milwaukee Radio Sucks." A station like The Buzz would go a long way, at least for me, of changing that attitude.
In the meantime, you can listen live from the station's Web site, or on your iPhone with the App from FlyCast.
